Morning light slanted across the pages in the Scripture Depository. Ling Yun's fingertip traced the diagram for "Wind Chant" in Seven Streams Sword Technique · Volume Two, his brow slightly furrowed. The diagram read: "Draw wind spirits into the sword, drive momentum with intent; when the sword emerges, it flows like the wind." Beside it was a route for circulating meridians to stir wind momentum—one that required the special spirit meridians of a Wind Spirit Physique. Ordinary sword cultivators could never copy it, much less him, a man without spiritual roots.
"Stop staring yourself to death at the diagram." Sword Elder's voice rang in his mind, carrying a note of guidance. "The Seven Streams Sword Technique was created by ancient sword cultivators who observed nature. The essence of 'Wind Chant' lies in 'following,' not in forcefully drawing it with your spirit meridians, but in letting your sword intent move with the natural wind. Try dispersing your Chaos Sword Intent into the wind around you. Don't think of controlling it. Think only of 'following.'"
Ling Yun closed the ancient book and rose, walking out to the open ground beyond the Scripture Depository. With the Sky-Rending Sword in hand, he shut his eyes and slowly released that thread of Chaos Sword Qi within him—unlike his deliberate control in the past, this time he let it drift with the breeze, like a wisp of blue smoke melting into the wind. A moment later, his eyes snapped open. With a flick of his wrist, the Sky-Rending Sword swept out an arc close to the ground.
"Buzz—"
The coarse-cloth scabbard had not even left its sheath, yet it drew in the surrounding winds, forming a pale cyan wind blade that shot along the path of his sword move. It struck a spruce trunk in the distance, leaving behind a smooth, shallow mark. As the wind blade dispersed, it carried a crisp sword hum—the very hallmark of the "Wind Chant" sword move!
I did it! Ling Yun felt a surge of joy. This was the first time he had truly executed a move from the Seven Streams Sword Technique. He had relied on no spiritual roots, only on the fusion of Chaos Sword Intent and the natural wind.
"Hmph. It only looks the part."
Murong Shuang's voice sounded again. At some point, she had appeared on the stone steps nearby, the Green Peak Sword in her hand and a complicated look in her eyes. In the instant Ling Yun had drawn upon the wind, she had clearly sensed the purity of that wind momentum—there was not the slightest sluggishness from spiritual roots forcefully driving it. It had flowed wholly with the natural wind direction, even more nimble than the wind momentum she summoned with her Wind Spirit Physique.
She stepped forward, drawing the Green Peak Sword. A fierce wind blade tore through the air and slashed straight at the tree trunk beside Ling Yun. This wind blade was more solid than his, accompanied by a howling gust. It cut half an inch into the trunk, yet when she withdrew her sword, a few wood chips scattered from the wound—clearly, her control over her sword intent was still slightly lacking.
"My 'Wind Chant' is fierce, but it lacks your smoothness." Murong Shuang sheathed her sword. Her tone no longer held its former arrogance, replaced instead by a measure of frankness. "But without spiritual roots supporting this move, you consume spiritual energy far too quickly. If you use it repeatedly in actual combat, you will be exhausted before three moves."
Ling Yun did not deny it. When he had used "Wind Chant" just now, he had clearly felt the expenditure of Chaos Sword Qi within him. If not for the Chaos Sword Body slowly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish him, he would likely have been drained after a single move. He took out the Qi Gathering Pill from his robe, crushed it between his fingers, and its lustrous white spiritual energy instantly surged into his body, flowing through his meridians and neatly filling the spent Sword Qi.
"A Qi Gathering Pill can only put out the fire at your eyebrows." Murong Shuang looked at the pill in his hand and spoke indifferently. "The Sword Tower Trial begins in three days. Inner disciples must clear seven floors to earn rewards, while the top outer disciple may participate directly. I heard there is a Sword Intent Stele on the seventh floor that can help one comprehend Basic Sword Intent. If you want to gain a foothold in the trial, you must first solve the problem of sustaining your spiritual energy."
Ling Yun's heart stirred. The Sword Tower Trial! This was precisely the crucial point of breakthrough outlined for him. He looked up at Murong Shuang and found that though her tone was calm, a trace of anticipation lay hidden in her eyes—clearly, this genius disciple had also regarded him as an opponent in the trial.
"Thank you for the reminder." Ling Yun put away the Sky-Rending Sword and turned to return to the training ground to consolidate "Wind Chant," only to be interrupted by a peal of bells.
"Dong—dong—dong—"
Three heavy bell chimes sounded from the Inner Sect's main peak, echoing through the entire Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. Immediately afterward, the Inner Disciple Steward's voice spread through every courtyard via amplified sword intent. "The Sword Tower Trial will commence in three days! All inner disciples must participate; among outer disciples, only last month's first place may enter! The trial has seven floors, each with a sword intent test. Those who clear all seven floors may enter the second level of the Scripture Depository to borrow advanced sword manuals; those who clear five floors will receive a Sword Intent Condensing Pill!"
The news set the inner disciples boiling at once. The Sword Intent Condensing Pill could accelerate the refinement of sword intent and was a key medicinal pill for sword apprentices breaking through into the Swordsman Realm. As for the advanced sword manuals on the second floor of the Scripture Depository, they were resources countless inner disciples dreamed of obtaining.
"Ling Yun can participate too? With his lack of spiritual roots, he probably cannot even clear the first floor!"
"Exactly. The first floor of the Sword Tower has the 'Gale Trial,' which requires one to use 'Wind Chant' ten times in succession. He cannot even sustain his spiritual energy—how could he pass?"
Discussion drifted over from the nearby courtyard. Several inner disciples looked in Ling Yun's direction, their voices brimming with doubt. Murong Shuang frowned, just about to speak in rebuttal, when she saw Ling Yun turn and head for the training ground as though he had not heard a word of their mockery.
"He is quite capable of keeping his composure." Murong Shuang curled her lips, a glint of fighting spirit flashing through her eyes. "But if he cannot even clear the first floor, is he worthy of being my opponent?"
At the training ground, Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword once more. He ignored the chatter around him, focusing only on adjusting the fusion between sword intent and wind momentum. This time, he no longer deliberately controlled his Chaos Sword Qi. Instead, he allowed it to absorb the scattered spiritual energy between heaven and earth like a sponge—the traits of the Chaos Sword Body revealed themselves at this moment. The mixed spiritual energy that ordinary sword cultivators could not absorb was slowly transformed by him into pure Sword Qi, sustaining the use of "Wind Chant."
"Swish—swish—swish—"
Pale cyan wind blades swept out one after another beside his scabbard, each more solid than the last. The sword hum also changed from a fine "buzzing" into a low "whooshing," like a flowing wind passing through the woods. After ten wind blades, Ling Yun's breathing was somewhat unsteady, but he was not exhausted as Murong Shuang had claimed he would be—the spiritual energy of heaven and earth absorbed by the Chaos Sword Body had replenished more than half his expenditure.
"Not bad." Sword Elder's voice held approval. "You have already touched the threshold of 'Wind Chant.' Over the next two days, you need only strengthen the harmony between your sword intent and wind momentum. The first-floor test of the Sword Tower will not be difficult for you. Remember, the Sword Intent Stele on the seventh floor is the true key—upon it remains the Basic Sword Intent of ancient sword cultivators. If you can comprehend it, you will truly step across the threshold of the sword path."
Ling Yun gazed toward the distant Sword Tower, shrouded in cloud and mist, and tightened his grip on the Sky-Rending Sword. He could feel the Chaos Sword Qi within him steadily growing stronger through his training in "Wind Chant." The spiritual energy from the Qi Gathering Pill still remained in his dantian, while the rewards of the Sword Tower Trial were close enough to grasp.
Yet he also knew that hidden dragons and crouching tigers filled the inner disciples. Murong Shuang in particular had long since trained "Wind Chant" to mastery and might even have grasped "Cloud Roll," the second move of the Seven Streams Sword Technique. Clearing all seven floors and comprehending Basic Sword Intent would be no easy task.
As the sun sank in the west, Ling Yun was finally able to perform "Wind Chant" twenty times in succession with steady breath. He sheathed his sword and turned toward the entrance of the training ground—Murong Shuang stood there, holding a cyan medicinal pill. When she saw him look over, she tossed it to him.
"Qi Condensing Powder. It lasts longer than a Qi Gathering Pill and can help you hold out longer in the trial." Murong Shuang's voice carried a few awkward notes. "I do not want to meet an opponent in the trial who collapses before reaching the seventh floor."
Ling Yun caught the pill, its cool touch passing into his fingertips. He looked up at Murong Shuang's departing back. Her ink-black ponytail swayed in the wind, while the silver bell on her sword tassel chimed softly. He tucked the Qi Condensing Powder into his robe, understanding in his heart that this proud genius disciple had finally acknowledged him, a "man without spiritual roots," as her opponent.
As night deepened, Ling Yun sat cross-legged atop a bluestone platform in the training ground, Chaos Sword Intent circulating slowly through him. Sword Elder's voice rang out again. "In the Sword Tower Trial, each floor's test is related to sword intent. You must keep a Clear Sword Heart at all times and see through the essence of the tests. Remember, the advantage of the Chaos Sword Body is not merely its compatibility with sword intent. It also allows you to absorb every kind of power between heaven and earth in desperate situations—even sword intent attacks within the trial can become your nourishment."
Ling Yun opened his eyes, determination flashing within them. The Sword Tower Trial three days from now was not merely his chance to prove himself; it was also a crucial step on his road to vengeance and his pursuit of the true meaning of the sword path. He would never retreat.
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